What it's like to study abroad in seoul 💌

Hey guys! 🥰 I'm officially back home + missing the wonderful city of Seoul. Welcome to a video where I share little stories, casual magic moments and memories from my study abroad semester in Korea! I study at Minerva university! I recreated Namjoon from BTS' photos at the San Museum, had breakthrough moments with the Korean language, made friends out of strangers and got burned out. I hope you enjoy!
Timestamps:
0:00 seeing my family for the first time in 9 months!
1:03 turning strangers to unexpected friends on bukhansan mountain
4:05 BTS-themed day and recreating RM's photos!
6:51 understanding Korean!
7:45 burnout :(
9:24 internship with a non-profit and learning about North Korea
12:37 cycling the Han River and making mistakes!
Mentioned in this video:
Bukhansan Mountain (tallest in Seoul!)
Daum School: nkgobridge.weebly.com/ (you can donate by emailing [e-mail])
Cycling the Han River - I started at Yeouido Park and cycled to Jamsil
San Museum: www.museumsan.org/enewweb/
BTS Cafe (Yoojung Sikdang): starsofheavens.com/2019/04/12...
Heygreens restaurant: www.mangoplate.com/en/restaur...
✨ CONTACT ME ✨
Business Enquiries: [e-mail]
Instagram - @unjadedjade
TikTok: @unjadedjade
🌞 MORE 🌞
Casual Magic of the Day: me and my dad played music while making porridge together. it's special to be with him in person again.
Song of the Day: Cruisin' to the Parque feat Y La Bamba
What are YOU grateful for today?
FAQ:
How old are you? ~ 21
Where are you from? ~ The UK! Near London.
Where do you go to university? ~ Minerva Schools at KGI
CURRENT FAVOURITES - things I love recently (these are all affiliate links):
Laptop stand: tinyurl.com/y7fvdglm
My beloved ukulele: amzn.to/3niJzht
My vegan Doc Marten boots: amzn.to/2Uf7ySb
Pip and Nut Almond Butter: amzn.to/3eSEOaG
Lifechanging productivity app Notion (free!): www.notion.so
Two of my fave hair products: amzn.to/32ZlLX6 and amzn.to/32ZlLX6
I also love the Chrome extension Momentum!: tinyurl.com/ped7kbq
if no one has told you today, you are enough. 💛

[@annamullan9377]

Minerva needs to rethink their ethos and how they approach academics. And honestly, also how they approach the whole cross-cultural semester set up; like it’s not possible to truly soak up the culture and the people in each different country when that’s combined with the sheer work load. As a uni, it looks exhausting, overwhelming and unhealthily stressful.

[@UnJadedJade]

I agree. We have frequent internal discussions about the unrealistic pressure of academics. It is indeed exhausting and completely undermines the value of experiencing new cultures to depth. As a programme it has huge potential and I believe will improve with iteration, but this year I had many moments where I questioned why on earth they designed it to be so intense!! Let us breathe 😩

[@annamullan9377]

@@UnJadedJade Exactly! It’s not realistic to expect students to thrive at learning broadly but also in depth at the same time and in so many different subjects too. Hopefully students’ thoughts will be heard and improvements can be taken on board for the future, but for now, enjoy your well earned summer break. Stay safe!

[@Clara-nl3hg]

@@UnJadedJade I love this comment, and agree with you but for the fact that they are a very "recent" institution i believe that they still have time to change this. Also, do you guys have some kind of way of saying things like this to the school? Cause I believe its a common issue for the other minerva students based on the way you said that you watch your friends deteriorate 😅

[@Someone25875]

Every college is like that. Stop acting so privileged

[@foxy5833]

@@Someone25875 No it's not :')

[@rainbowfuchsia1]

You'll probably disagree, but I think this degree course is too intense. I'm totally not thinking a degree should be easy, but watching your friends deteriorate around you is too much. I love the video though and love the way you get to study in different countries.

[@UnJadedJade]

I'm going to make a video on this at some point, but I agree. We have so many discussions about this internally!! The workload is unrealistic aside such an unstable personal life 💛 thank you for the kind words

[@darjaberg]

your experience at Minerva reminds me a lot of what I experienced studying physics at Imperial. The culture of "as imperial students you should be able to handle this, and if you can't you aren't good enough", was doing wonders for everyone's mental health... and the mental health services had 1-2 month queues 🙄 a lot of people were burnt out and some even depressed. it always felt like it didn't have to be like that, like they were making it harder on purpose, just to prove some point.

[@bhanvijuvekar]

Somebody you didn't know noticed you were stressed and then got you a cookie??? That is such a wholesome story to hear and so heartwarming especially you know when everybody is so busy with their own lives... Loved hearing these anecdotes

[@UnJadedJade]

Right 🥺🥰 so kind! It makes me want to give random acts of kindness to others too :) x

[@IsabellaBoyne]

Thank you for sharing more of your experiences! Your videos always bring so much happiness to my life and I love how you try and talk to new people and explore so many different projects etc. You are so inspiring and seem like the loveliest person - would love to have a friend like you in my life so it's so cute that you consider your subscribers your friends 🥰

[@SamElle]

total sidenote, but your blue top make your eyes POP!!! so so prettty

[@UnJadedJade]

🥰🥰 thank you!!

[@alicefeel3918]

Jaaade✨ I know you love your followers but sometimes people are going through something in their life and they could be mean (not purposefully), please don’t let this discourage you from making glorious videos and undermine your confidence 🤩 Looots of love💛💛💛

[@jihanesaadi27]

I already loved how wholesome genuine you are as a person, and how much you focus on meaningful relationships... and then I saw you like BTS for their deep lyrics AND Kookie’s socks (JK is my bias) and I love you even more now haha 💕 Keep being awesome!

[@lais743]

jade you are such a queen! congrats for opening yourself for this new experiences, i imagine being in a foreign country must be tough. you are a real inspiration 🦋

[@gloss1138]

my favourite youtuber is an army? im so happyyy i love your content so much!

[@kadeeeartiaga]

Before anything else, lemme let it out--I’m so in love with your hair! 🥺😍 I’ve always love S. Korea and I want to visit the country soon~~~ this video made me crave for it more! ❤️❤️❤️

[@jikookiest]

The name of the video caught me off-guard, to be honest haha P.S.: Not surprised your bias is Namjoon hehe; I feel like anyone in the study community would either like him or Yoongi (Suga) Also, your experiences around Seoul are so cool! Hopefully, I get to go there once the pandemic settles down

[@wearsaaliyah]

Loved hearing about some of ur adventures in seoul :)

[@sarazx398]

Jade im so happy that you are back to home. I was so excited to see you going back idk why i miss your room lol😂😂😂. Enjoyy ❤️❤️

[@yakineferjani5283]

I just put this video in between my study sessions, it's so calming and I love everything you touched on. As an ARMY the Joonie part was a bonus 💜 Everyone loves that lovely human being, he's really inspiring from the way he talks to the way he raps. I wish I could visit Seoul one day, one's SOUL would thrive in SEOUL 🌻

[@larenafiandes8057]

namjoon stan here ,British and 38 ,I love watching your videos and you really captured a nice view of korean life

[@jadelauren2269]

The BTS themed day looked so fun! ❤️

[@ventomedic3054]

Just seeing you appreciate all these little things in life that one might not even notice makes me look into my life more deeply and see just how much I have to appreciate !!😊 🥰thank you Jade wish you all the amazing things in the world!!

[@ashitha9367]

Jade! I'm so glad u love BTS cuz I do too!! They're such inspiring and brilliant artists and they're songs rly speak out to me!! So happy that u like their music too 💜💜💜

[@missg5769]

No university is worth deteriorating for. There is something very wrong with Minerva if the norm is that your mental health will suffer massively. Does Minerva not provide mental health support and mitigations to help students? From everything described, it seems like the set up at Minerva is designed to make students struggle, rather than to let them flourish.

[@thirza_]

That’s just not true, Jade is thriving at Minerva!! Any university takes a massive tole on mental health, as you live independently for the first time. Of course being abroad is harder, but that’s no different to language students or anything. I think you need to remember that any university is extremely hard.

[@missg5769]

@@thirza_ Trust me, I know that university can be stressful and incredibly challenging. With something like Minerva, I can see that the constant travel can make things a lot more stressful. That's precisely why I think Minerva is failing its students - the entire environment seems to be designed to make things as stressful as possible, without any mitigations and support that are available at more traditional universities. No one should feel like deteriorating, or watching their friends deteriorate, is just how it is. That is not a healthy way to do anything, especially a degree. If anyone reading does feel like their mental health is suffering, I urge them to reach out to whoever is available, be that a friend or a family member, university support or counsellors, a charity such as samaritans, etc. University, while it's never going to be a walk in the park, shouldn't have to take a massive toll on your mental health and adopting the mentality that that is the norm is really harmful.

[@lururu]

Jade was/is also writing a book which I suspect would play a big part but I agree

[@crabbostabbo278]

Althpuh I tottally see ur point, i feel like its kind of unrealistic and highly privilaged stance, since, the only countries where mental health is a thing are those of the first world, and minerva, its not comprised of only the privilaged, for instance, almost a third of people in my country have som sort of mental disease, and they dont even know about it, and college life in general in my country is 10 times more destroying to ur actual phisical health (i have pulled tons of all nightersa earning "experience" to douche bags that have far less knowledge and experience than me but because they are older and have a job they are somehow better) and even then i would give my left eye to live that experience, and i have it good, so think abput people in far better position than the one i am, to speak on behalf of somethingbeing good or bad theres a piece of context that must be added, yea its a lot, and probably not healthy, but imagine the workload an ingeneering or law stundent has to go thru in a regular school, or a computer cientist, or any scientist for that matter I agree that it shouldnt be the norm, but context proves that its not realistic to expect any less from that enviorment, if not, just ask about the days of someone working and studying at a community college. sooo yea thats my point of view

[@crabbostabbo278]

@@missg5769 sis, u know that theres a lot of people that dont study in theyr hometowns? having to do the same that jades doing?

[@linab6570]

Thanks for also talking about negative aspects. I think talking about burnouts and mental health struggles is really important, especially now with social media it seems like everyone just easily manages to write a book, study in uni, and be self employed. I always wondered how you do it without burning out 😅

[@alicenilssontrygg3070]

It would be so nice if you made a video going through all your experiences!! Haha it sound a lot but like if you started with when you first travelled in Europe, then in Australia. Then when you where in America and Berlin and Seoul. You could summarize everything and talk about what each of the experiences taught you and which you liked most and so on. You inspire me so much and I would really appreciate a video like that! Thank you 💜

[@aparajitaprabhu1947]

❤️💜💛❤️💜💛

[@JemimasOutcome]

Aww these stories are so wholesome, even the hectic chaos of uni life are part of the experience. Your time in Seoul seems worthwhile, from the kind people, to the non profit and to fangirling to BTS 💜

[@diyagarg11]

Jade!! You inspire me so much! I love your optimism, your energy, your honesty, and your dedication in everything that you do. These videos have kept me sane during the pandemic so thank you so much

[@amalwasti2729]

Jade, you make me so happy and this video was so wholesome 🥺💗 ily

[@lilyblack5155]

Loved this catch up! Please please please bring back the study with me/work with me videos 🤍🤍🤍

[@farahallaik1213]

This channel is my portal to genuine happiness and good vibes ✨✨

[@cheeeeeeeesecake]

You have such a lovely personality I cannot stop watching your videos! As a Korean living in London I am excited to hear about the positive experience you had while your stay in Seoul. Hopefully you get enough rest now that you are back home!

[@lechettea1843]

as an introvert, this inspires me to just have random talks with strangers

[@suzy5008]

OMG Jade you're back! I missed you so much! 💞💞

[@rondoflicflac]

Glad to see you enjoyed Seoul Jade!!! ❤❤❤

[@user-lx5yq1pr4s]

You really know how to enjoy the life's journey. Respect.

[@SrikritiSarma]

Your voice is so good! ❤️

[@AngelVianne]

Stumbled upon your channel through your culture shock video but got interested to watch more! 6:10 - Related to this sooo much, it's such a fun bonding experience with fellow armies haha your stories inspired me to make the most out of my uni days and to really meet as many people as I possibly can. Your energy whilst sharing your stories brought so much joy to my day, thank you for that 🥺

[@reneeleyyi1345]

This is my first video of you and like gurl, ur voice is... very cool Also very very wholesome stories 🤧🥺

[@reneerijsdijk3304]

Thank you so much for taking the time for making this amazing video, I adored every single moment of it 🥰🥰

[@meenakshy]

Ahhh my fav youtuber and our leader from my fav band 💜😍

[@strawberrymilk366]

loved this!! my two worlds colliding!!

[@zai91b]

love videos like these so much

[@mealinaco]

Only just stumbled onto your video, love your content. Also may I say my fellow ARMY sister, RM is my bias too and I feel you were so lucky to be able to go where he went, fantastic place I think. Can't wait to get to South Korea and experience this myself. Touched by all your lovely experiences, good luck ahead. ☺️

[@Ahya9]

this is must watch YT channel,for literally anyone looking for contentment in what is already there,you humble down the viewers with each topic and truly that is so inspiring and motivating.KUDOS TO YOU POWERFUL WOMAN.xoxo.

[@dikraraih5952]

I love your energy 💫

[@gloomydaysunshine8656]

It's like sometimes you speak you're partially laughing or like holding back a laugh And that happiness is so infectious ❤

[@sumedhar386]

Jade see u being happy and experiencing different part of countries give me Travel vibes ✈🛫😃

[@daisy-sj8ny]

Some videos on tips for studying abroad would be amazing!!

[@zuzuzuzuuuu]

Hi! I would like to see some more q&a about Minerva, its so interesting imo ;) btw this video was very nice to watch, the stories are amazing and I really like your expression and your attitude to life:)

[@pujakarmakar9176]

This semester was the worst one for me too never experienced such burnouts in my life! I was exhausted to the level where I stopped everything like talking to my parents and friends (mentioning that I stay with my parents so just imagine) I would just eat and sleep do my classes do the homework's and that was the loop. And I finished my finals last week so I had a mad crazy semester everything online so your video made me cry idk why but I am very happy for you thanks for sharing your journey. I am international student myself so such language incidents happened with me too on my 1st year at uni

[@CegomezChannel]

Such a good idea to make a video like this! Sometimes you can’t film your favorite moments while you’re experiencing them so this is a great way to tell them and also you won’t forget ❤️ I wish I had done something like this during my year studying abroad! I also think that the small moments that form your routine, like having dinner with your friends at night in your dorm, can be the best moments and the most difficult to capture

[@rensvh98]

I would love to see a video on tips for future exchange students going to Seoul! Like things to look out for, must-sees, must-do's, just... general tips and advice. As stressful as your time in South Korea often was, you made it look SO lovely and it made me fall in love with the country even more. Amazing video Jade! Even though I came for Korea-related content and you just got back home, I just subscribed ✨

[@rosiemiller2266]

Could you maybe do a Q&A about living in Seoul at some point, I am thinking of moving there in a couple years and would love the perspective of a British person? Love your content x

[@tayyebafaisal296]

why is no one from studytube talking about this?! #savepalestine#freepalestine #savegaza #savesilwan #savelifta #SaveAlAqsa #SaveJerusalem #SaveSheikhJarrah #GazaUnderAttack 💔💔🇵🇸🇵🇸

[@rasmi5393]

I really love listening to her talking

[@emiliabugueiromeyer8166]

Your life is so fascinating Jade!! I love how you´re so respectful of every culture :) loove you, thanks for sharing

[@eef5195]

Hey jade! I love your videos A LOT! I was wondering; would you consider it to be easy to eat vegan in restaurants in Seoul?

[@lorcanbonser-wilton3222]

Love you Jade! You’re incredible!

[@Miu-vw3qz]

Hey Jade! Congratulations on writing a book! It hasn't got a cover yet, can I illustrate the book and the cover please?Love your vids!😊

[@EvaAntonia1]

Aww, this woman (first story) is so sweet

[@skloise]

Omgggg i didn’t know you’re an army 🥺 I’m an ARMY and i’m so jealous 😭😭😭😭

[@angelyn.archive]

the bicycle oneeee 🖤⚡

[@lorrainelimquiaco461]

Went to your channel after watching the podcast on Ali Abdaal's. Really like how you exude positivity 💛 Also, ARMY here 👋💜

[@AManOf_Culture]

Glad that I bumped into your channel by the title.. now I'm never leaving.

[@jasminodemartino2154]

This girl just keeps on inspiring me... I feel like I am capable of doing anything hahahah this is crazy

[@UnJadedJade]

Because you are!! 🧚‍♀️

[@user-vo4to9wz2r]

오늘 어디 가요? Could be also ‘Are you going somewhere??’. So you could have answered it correctly!! By the way, I love your stories and the positive energies that you give us. I also absolutely love how you are so confident in yourself and how you are trying your best in every moments. Have a wonderful day!

[@Sara-zm1gp]

being an army in the UK is lit but IMAGINE being in SK omg my soul needs a BTS-themed day

[@meriameoujamaa3497]

I was literally thinking about you when you uploaded :D

[@catemarquezz]

I love your vids❤❤

[@hasnae1498]

You'll have the most beautiful arsds!!! happy BTS day^^

[@theguys2402]

Ahhh u had so many great memories frm Seoul! This is making me wanna go there someday. Plus, I love the way you appreciate small things in your life and I think that's the reason you find life so meaningful. Pls make new videos.. Just about anything.. Bcs I find every topic interesting when you talk about it.

[@btsforever9771]

Namjoon our peaceful king ❤️❤️❤️you soo cuteeeeeeeeeeee 🥺

[@sanavalli4299]

Aaaa it was so lovely hearing about your time in Korea. Could you do a Q and a, about how you’re feeling, your next steps, and about your brother and how he’s doing, if he’s going to university, stuff like that, love you lots

[@cinammonrollss]

Jade talkin about bts I was like yas they are our idols yup. She also went to the restraunt I'm really jealous rn

[@zuuhra]

thank you for this video. now im cry, thank you so much, you so beautiful and cute

[@isabe11e6]

stop i am so jealous of ur bts themed day!

[@gisellematos2277]

I just loved this so so much

[@tatikungfu]

I just started the video but before that I have to say that Namjoon is my favorite BTS 💜

[@elizabethanders8069]

Hi Jade👋😊! Another great video👏👍! You are an awesome young woman who has been blessed to travel the world and gain wonderful experiences👏👍! Keep doing what you're doing and don't allow those "haters" get you down😉. Please stay strong 💪 ❤. God Bless you 🙏

[@butterflyeffectexperiment530]

Your eyes say smile! xo

[@AnnaRobert]

Thanks for sharing this with us! Could you do a part 2? I would love that!

[@nievescalvo2786]

Unjaded jade and BTS would be a great summary of this year so this made me happy :3

[@oldhoodie]

I love all your videos, me and my dad sit down together and watch them every time you post. You just put a smile on everyone’s faces and have given some great advice. Thank you for taking the time to make these and good luck on the book!!! 💖 사랑해 친구

[@UnJadedJade]

Wait, you do? This is the sweetest thing 🥰 send him a hello from me! 감사합니다 xx

[@emiljoby9279]

YESSSSSSS NAMJOON BIASSSS 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@shreyasisodia6620]

This was so wholesome 🥰 also fellow army here ☂️

[@anjalimohan5300]

I got notification that unjaded jade uploaded a video,I was eager and then saw NAMJOON's name.......and I clicked even faster than Jin's rap🤧😂💜

[@naushinmohddidar1350]

You are my inspiration jade❤❤❤

[@meriemdhouibi]

Jade! Please a film a guided meditation, I would meditate to it every day

[@yolokimc8460]

말하는걸 많이 알아듣지는 못하지만 잘보고있어욥🙂 저도 외국에있어서 한국에 못간지 오래인데 영상만으로도 넘 그립고 반갑네요 👍 영상찍어줘서 고마워욥🙇🏻‍♀️

[@micaylabam2428]

Wish you could come and experience South Africa! Loved the video, Jade. It is really insightful and interesting. It was so fun to reminisce with you about your time in South Korea.

[@agneskroezen8544]

Hi Jade! I'm moving abroad for school myself next year (Seoul actually haha!). Do you have any tips on how to deal with culture shock and get comfortable easily? :)

[@rachellllhines]

absolutely fascinating experience you had with the non-profit. that is so rewarding, I feel like you would be really good in non-profit work as a career :)

[@cinammonrollss]

I love this I have been in love with bts and became an army but I really love the idea lysm

[@sakz6064]

Thank you so much for who you are! You are my role model... you always inspire me to remember that i can do anything!! Thank you once again.

[@UnJadedJade]

This means so much, thank you! 🥺💛 lots of love xx

[@maggiecampione6176]

30 seconds in and already love the video!!! thanks for being such a positive influence!!❤️❤️

[@UnJadedJade]

this is so kind! 🥰

[@charlottesweeklymusic7223]

I love hearing about your amazing adventures ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ichbinnichtdu791]

You're so inspiring!!💫💫💫

[@AhmetKaan]

*It is better to light a candle than to complain about the darkness.* I believe in you, have a great day! 🖤🙏

[@cynthj]

how is south korea so BEAUTIFUL?!!

[@ayezafaisal4247]

SHE AN ARMY AHHHH 🥺💜💜💜

[@bisme4084]

Loved the video

[@sehrishejaz3366]

The fact that you uploaded this video just 2 hours before Namjoon released his song 'Bicycle'!!!🥺🥺🥺I hope you will listen to it it's so comforting and beautiful. Welcome to the ARMY family💜💜

[@UnJadedJade]

yESSS such an incredible song 🥰

[@Noorrrr]

GIRL I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE AN ARMY WTH SJSNJSJSJEBD your so inspiring 😭💜